Wiper system for a glass pane of a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A wiper system for a glass pane of a motor vehicle includes a fixing device which itself includes at least three fixing mechanisms which are set apart from each other and corresponding receiving devices in which the fixing mechanisms engage the wiper system also includes a contact device having at least one essentially rigid part that is connected to the system and a complementary vehicle-side part the contact device provides the connection between a driving device of the wiper system and a vehicle-side supply device. In order to facilitate the mounting of the wiper system, the vehicle-side part of the contact device is essentially rigidly connected to the vehicle and the two parts of the contact device are aligned in such a way that a contact is established automatically when the wiper system is fixed to the vehicle.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a wiper system for a glass pane of amotor vehicle with a securing device which comprises securing membersspaced apart from each other and corresponding receiving devices whichthe securing members can engage, and with a contact device whichcomprises at least one part fastened essentially rigidly to the wipersystem and a part complementary to this on the vehicle side, the partsallowing the wiper system to be connected to a supply device on thevehicle side.

A wiper system of this kind is known from DE 198 33 404 A1. The wipersystem disclosed in this patent comprises a supporting structure onwhich a total of three securing members configured as cylindricalmounting pins are provided. The mounting pins are inserted axially intoreceiving holes which are located in special holders on the vehicleside. Wiper bearings are furnished on the supporting structure, to whichwiper arms can be attached. Wiper shafts carried in the wiper bearingsare set into a cyclical oscillating motion by a drive motor through aconnecting linkage. The electrical connection of the drive motor to thepower supply on the vehicle side is made through a female connectormolded to the motor housing, the contact containing suitable electricalcontacts.

During assembly of the wiper system to the vehicle, the wiper system isfirst attached to the vehicle by insertion, meaning without bolts, andthen a plug connector provided on the vehicle side, which is connectedby a flexible cable to the power supply, is inserted into the socketconnector.

The disadvantage of the known wiper system is that its assembly is stillrelatively time-consuming, in spite of the simplified attachmentprocedure for the wiper system.

The object of the present invention is therefore to further develop awiper system of the described kind so that it can be mounted morequickly and still securely to the vehicle.

This object is attained by the part of the contact device on the vehicleside being connected essentially rigidly to the vehicle and the twoparts of the contact device being aligned in such a way that contact isachieved automatically when the wiper system is attached to the vehicle.

In accordance with the invention, the vehicle-side part is no longerconnected to the vehicle by means of a flexible cable such that it isfreely moveable, but is instead connected rigidly, so that it acts inconcert with the wiper-side part of the contact device when the wipersystem is attached to the vehicle, without additional manual activity onthe part of a user. The two parts of the contact device are so disposedand aligned that they are in such close proximity that, after the wipersystem has been mounted to the vehicle, the contact elements of theindividual parts of the contact device touch and contact is achievedautomatically as a result.

In this way, in a single operation, the wiper system is first,mechanically attached to the vehicle and secondly, contacts which areneeded to operate the wiper system are achieved in the same operation.Assembly of the wiper system to the vehicle is speeded up, which cansave costs during production. In addition, quality defects on thevehicle as the result of the proper contacts being forgotten duringassembly of the wiper system are prevented.

In one aspect of the invention, the contact device is located in theproximity of the attachment point whose securing member is the last toengage the receiving device during the wiper system attachmentprocedure. This has the advantage that relative movements of thecontacts in the contact device are avoided, the movements occurring ifit were necessary for other securing members to engage correspondingreceiving devices after contact had been achieved. In certaincircumstances, this kind of relative movement of the contacts couldresult in the contacts being damaged.

It is especially preferred of the directional motion of the contacts inthe contact device corresponds to the direction of installation duringthe process of attaching the wiper system. In this further developmentof the invention, complicated mechanical equipment which transfers thedirection of installation into corresponding contact movements isavoided.

Especially advantageous is the further development is in which thecontact device has an aligning device, and the part of the contactdevice on the wiper system side exhibits lateral play with respect tothe wiper system, and/or the vehicle-side part of the contact deviceexhibits lateral play with respect to the vehicle-side part fortolerances. This takes account of the fact that because of manufacturingtolerances, the wiper system side of the contact device and the vehicleside part of the contact device are possibly not exactly aligned to eachother initially. This alignment takes place automatically during theprocedure of attaching the wiper system to the vehicle through thealigning device and the play.

In another further development, the wiper system side and/or the vehicleside part of the contact device is flexibly mounted in the direction ofits installation. This compensates for axial production tolerances whichcould result in a gap still remaining between the two parts of thecontact device after installation, or said parts pressing against eachother with too great a force.

The further development in which the contact device comprises a plugconnector and a socket connector is particularly easy to produce.

The orientation of the plug connector with respect to the socketconnector is made possible in a simple fashion if the plug connector hasa centering chamfer. Another further development goes in the samedirection, in which the socket connector has a centering chamfer.

Production of the contact device is simplified and good sealing isachieved by molding the plug connector to the drive device of the wipersystem.

A characteristic of another further development of the invention is thatthe plug connector and/or the socket connector includes a moisture seal.This increases the operational reliability of the wiper system under theinvention.

Finally, in accordance with the invention another further development isproposed in which an electrical contact for the drive device and for afill-level sensor and/or a fluid sensor as required is achieved throughthe contact device. In the case of this inventive wiper system, all thecontacts necessary for operation of the wiper system can be made throughthe contact device, which saves additional steps and thus assemblycosts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

An aspect of the invention is explained in detail in what follows withreference to the attached drawing. In the drawing:

FIG. 1. shows a perspective illustration of a windshield wiper systemwith a part of contact device on the system side;

FIG. 2 shows a partially sectioned side view of the windshield wipersystem of FIG. 2 including a part of the contact device on the vehicleside; and

FIG. 3 shows a partially sectioned view in the direction of the arrow Xfrom FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A windshield wiper system for a motor vehicle has the overall referencenumeral 10 in FIG. 1. It comprises a tubular supporting structure 12which carries a bearing housing 14 or 16 at both ends. In each bearinghousing 14 or 16, a wiper shaft 18 or 20 to receive a windshield wiperarm is secured axially and carried so as to be rotatable.

A drive device 22, which operates on a connecting linkage 24, sitsapproximately in the center section of the supporting structure 12. Oneend of the connecting linkage 24 is connected in an articulated mannerto a crank 26, which in turn is rigidly coupled to the wiper shaft 18.The other end of the connecting linkage 24 is connected in anarticulated manner to a crank 28 which is rigidly coupled to the otherwiper shaft 20.

The windshield wiper system can be attached by means of a screwlessplug-in connection below a windshield of a vehicle body, the windshieldnot being shown in the drawing. For this purpose, each bearing housing14, 16 carries a cylindrical mounting pin 32, 34. The left mounting pinin FIG. 1 projects from the bearing body 14 at a right angle to thewiper shaft on the one hand, and on the other hand to the supportingstructure 12 overall. The same applies to the right mounting pin 34 inFIG. 1, which is aligned parallel to the mounting pin 32. An additionalcylindrical mounting pin has the reference numeral 36 and is rigidlyattached to a spacer element 38 on the side of the drive device 22 awayfrom the supporting structure 12.

As a group, the mounting pins 32, 34 and 36 lie at the angles of atriangle and form a stable support base.

Receiving devices are furnished on the vehicle side to attach thewindshield wiper system 10 to the vehicle, of which only the one formounting pin 36 is shown in FIG. 2. Its receiving device consists of anopening in a structural metal panel 40 on the vehicle, which forms atubular section 42 to receive the mounting pin 36.

The drive device 22 comprises basically an electric motor 44 which isflanged to a gear 48 by means of a flange 46. A conduit for electricalconductors 50 is molded to the housing for the gear 48, said conduitextending essentially at a right angle to the supporting structure 12and parallel to the spacer element 38 on the side of the drive device 22away from the supporting structure 12. The electrical conductor conduit50 ends laterally a little before the spacer 38. A plug connector ismolded onto this end, the connector having a basically rectangular crosssection and extending downward at a right angle from the electricalconductor conduit 50 parallel to the mounting pin 36.

Electrical conductors (not shown) are carried in the conductor conduit50, which are connected to contacts 54 which project from a base 56 of arecess disposed at the lower end of the connector 52. In this way thecontacts 54 are protected to the outside, particularly during storageand transportation of the windshield wiper system 10. The insideclearance of the recess 58 becomes greater from the base 56 to the loweredge. The sidewalls of the recess 58 are thus configured as guidechamfers 60.

The gear housing 48, the conductor conduit 50 and the connector 52 areproduced in one step by injection molding. An electrically insulatingcomposite plastic is used as the material. The contacts 54, as well asthe conductors, not shown, are cast into the composite plastic material.Since the conductor conduit 50 protrudes freely over a certain distancefrom the gear housing 48 and is made from a generally flexible compositeplastic material, the conductor conduit 50 to some extent forms aflexible mounting for the male connector 52.

The vehicle-side part of the contact device comprises a female connector62, whose outer contour is conical and complementary to the recess 58 inthe male connector 62. There is a recess 64 in the upper area in thefemale connector 62, with spring contacts 66 matching the male connectorcontacts 54 positioned in the recess. The spring contacts 66 in turn areconnected through conductors, not shown, to a vehicle-side supplydevice, also not shown, for example, a generator or a battery.

The female connector 62 has a collar 68 at a distance from its upperend. The distance between the upper end of the female connector 62 andthe collar 68 is somewhat greater than the depth of the recess 58 in themale connector 52. The female connector 62 lies with the collar 68against the upper side of a yoke-shaped bracket 70. The female connector62 extends downward with a connecting section 72 through a recess 74 inthe bracket 70, where the diameter of the recess 74 is somewhat largerthan the diameter of the connecting section 72. Clamping straps 76 areformed on the lower end of the female connector 62 which have a springsection 78 and a clamping section 80. The clamping straps 76 extendupward in the direction of the collar 68. The length of the clampingstraps 76 is calculated such that they press against the bracket 70 fromthe underside. In this way the female connector 62 is held under tensionin an axially secure manner against the bracket 70, but at the sametime, because of the play existing between the connector section 72 andthe recess 74 in the bracket 70, it can be moved radially. The bracket70 is in turn attached to the structural metal panel 40 of the vehicle.To increase the operational reliability of the wiper system at least oneof the male connector 52 and female connector 62 includes a moistureseal 88.

Assembly of the wiper system 10 to the vehicle is carried out asfollows:

First, the mounting pins 32, 34 and 36 are installed into thecorresponding tubular sections 42 (as shown by arrow 82 in FIG. 2). As aresult, the wiper system 10 is positioned precisely with respect to thevehicle. During the further installation process, the male connector 52is pushed onto the female connector 62, as indicated by the arrow 84 inFIG. 2. The positioning chamfer 60 of the recess 58 in the maleconnector 52 acts in concert with the outside contour of the femaleconnector 62 such that the female connector 62 aligns itself axially ina straight line within its lateral play with respect to the bracket 70,as shown by the arrows 86.

Then the contacts 54 in the male connector 52 engage the spring contacts66 in the female connector 62, whereby the electrical contact betweenthe windshield wiper system 10 and the supply device on the vehicle sideis completed. Because of the flexibility of the bracket 70 on the onepart and the conductor conduit 50 on the other, axial manufacturingtolerances can be taken up without any difficulty.

In this way, firstly, the windshield wiper system 10 is attached to thevehicle and, secondly, the electrical contact between the drive device22 and the supply device on the vehicle is completed in a singleoperation.

In an aspect of the invention that is not shown, contacts for afluid-level sensor are formed into the male connector and the matchingfemale connector. A fluid contact by which two lines or hoses areconnected to each other can also be implemented in the contact device.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wiper system for a glass pane of a motorvehicle includes a motor supported on a wiper drive support structuremountable to the vehicle with a securing device which includes securingmembers and corresponding receiving devices associated with the vehiclewhich the securing members can engage, and a contact device whichincludes at least one part connected in an essentially rigid manner tothe wiper drive support structure and a complementary part on thevehicle side and through which system at least the motor can beconnected to a supply device on the vehicle side, wherein the part ofthe contact device on the vehicle side is connected in an essentiallyrigid manner to the vehicle and the two parts of the contact device arealigned such that contact is completed automatically when the wiperdrive support structure is attached to the vehicle.
 2. The wiper systemfrom claim 1, wherein the contact device is located in the proximity ofan attachment point whose securing member is the last to engage thereceiving device in the process of installing the wiper system.
 3. Thewiper system from claim 1, wherein the direction of motion of thecontacts of the contact device corresponds approximately to thedirection of attachment in the process of installing the wiper system.4. The wiper system from claim 1, wherein the contact device has analigning device, and wherein a part of the contact device on the motorside of the contact device has lateral play with respect to the wiperdrive support structure and a part of the contact device on the vehicleside of the contact device has lateral play with respect to the vehicle.5. The wiper system from claim 1, wherein a portion of one of the parton the motor side and the part on the vehicle side of the contact deviceis mounted flexibly in the direction of attachment.
 6. The wiper systemfrom claim 1, wherein the contact device comprises a male and a femaleconnector.
 7. The wiper system from claim 6, wherein the male connectorhas a centering chamfer.
 8. The wiper system from claim 6, wherein thefemale connector has a centering chamfer.
 9. The wiper system from claim6, wherein the male connector is molded to the wiper drive supportstructure for the wiper system.
 10. The wiper system from claim 6,wherein the male connector and the female connector includes a moistureseal.
 11. The wiper system from claim 1, wherein an electrical contactfor one of a drive device, a sensor, and a fluid contact is createdthrough the contact device.
 12. A wiper system for a motor vehiclecomprising a first portion fixed to the vehicle and a second portionmountable to the first portion, said first portion including one part ofa contact device connected to a supply device on the vehicle and atleast one receiving device, said second portion including a motorsupported on a wiper drive support structure, at least one securingmember for engagement to the at least one receiving device, and a secondpart of the contact device, wherein the first part of the contact deviceis connected in an essentially rigid manner to the vehicle and the firstand second parts of the contact device are aligned such that contact iscompleted automatically when the wiper system is attached to thevehicle.
 13. The wiper system from claim 12, wherein the contact deviceis located in the proximity of an attachment point whose securing memberis the last to engage the receiving device in the process of installingthe wiper system.
 14. The wiper system from claim 12, wherein thedirection of motion of the contacts of the contact device correspondsapproximately to the direction of attachment in the process ofinstalling the wiper system.
 15. The wiper system from claim 12, whereinthe contact device has an aligning device, and wherein a component ofthe contact device on the second portion has lateral play with respectto the motor and the part of the contact device on the first portion haslateral play with respect to the vehicle.
 16. The wiper system fromclaim 12, wherein a component of one of the part of the contact deviceon the first portion and the part of the contact device on the secondportion is mounted flexibly in the direction of attachment.
 17. Thewiper system from claim 12, wherein the contact device comprises a maleand a female connector.
 18. The wiper system from claim 17, wherein themale connector has a centering chamfer.
 19. The wiper system from claim17, wherein the female connector has a centering chamfer.
 20. The wipersystem from claim 17, wherein the male connector is molded to a drivedevice for the wiper system.
 21. The wiper system from claim 17, whereinthe male connector and the female connector includes a moisture seal.22. The wiper system from claim 12, wherein an electrical contact forone of a drive device, a sensor, and a fluid contact is created throughthe contact device.